Setting Up of National Tourism Board

The
growth registered in the final figures of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in
India during last two years was better than the provisional estimates of FTAs.
The provisional estimates and final figures of FTAs in India along with the
growth rates over previous year is given below:

Year

2013

2014

Provisional FTAs (in million)

6.85

7.46

Growth rate (%)

4.1

7.1

Final FTAs (in million)

6.97

7.68

Growth rate (%)

5.9

10.2

The
Ministry of Tourism is currently in the process of formulating a National
Tourism Policy 2015 with the aim of positioning India as a “Must Experience”
and “Must Revisit” destination for global travellers, encouraging Indians to
explore their own country and realising the potential of tourism as a major
engine for economic growth, employment generation and poverty alleviation in a
responsible framework. During the consultation process with stake holders for
getting input for the policy, one of the suggestions received for the Policy
includes the setting up of a National Tourism
Authority/Board.

This
information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent
Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written
reply in Rajya Sabha today.

****

Promotion of Remote Villages
and Small and Medium Towns as tourist Spots

The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) promotes India as a holistic destination and as
part of its on-going activities, annually releases print, electronic, online
and outdoor media campaigns in the international and domestic markets, under
the Incredible India brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and
products of the country. MOT also promotes the tourism destinations and
products through its websites and publicity and promotional material produced
by it from time to time. In addition, a series of promotional activities are
undertaken in important and potential tourist generating markets abroad through
overseas India tourism offices with the objective of showcasing India’s tourism
potential and increasing tourist arrivals to the country. The objectives are
met through an integrated marketing and promotional strategy and a synergized
campaign in association with the Travel Trade, State Governments and Indian
Missions overseas.

These include participation in travel fairs and exhibitions; organising road
shows, ‘Know India’ seminars & workshops; organizing and supporting Indian
food and cultural festivals; publication of brochures; offering joint
advertising and brochure support and inviting media personalities, tour
operators and opinion makers to visit the country under the Hospitality
Programme of the Ministry.

This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism
(Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma
in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

****

National Cleanliness Campaign
on ‘Religious Places, Tourism and Heritage Sites’ is in Progress from 1st to
15th Dec. 2015

A National Cleanliness
Campaign is being observed from 25th September, 2015 to 31st October, 2016 for
intensifying active participation in Swachh Bharat Mission. As part of this, a
theme based drive on ‘Religious Places, Tourism and Heritage Sites’ is being
undertaken from 1st December to 15th December, 2015.

The Ministry of Tourism has written to all State Government and UT
Administrations to observe the drive, to install flex board messages in
religious places and heritage sites on importance of cleanliness, to print new
entry tickets to national heritage sites, with cleanliness message on the back
side, to contact NGOs and schools for undertaking cleanliness drives with
students from schools and universities – within the religious places and
heritage sites.

Heads of various religious organizations have been approached to issue open
appeals to the citizens of India to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in their
day to day activities..

A dedicated Project Monitoring Unit for overseeing the work related to the
Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan has been constituted and is likely to become functional
in December, 2015.

*****

Contribution of Tourism and
Hospitality Sector to Economy

As per the 2nd Tourism
Satellite Account of India (TSA) - 2009-10 and subsequent estimation for the
next three years namely 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, the contribution of
tourism to total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12
and 2012-13 were 6.77%, 6.76%, 6.76% and 6.88%, respectively. The contribution
of tourism to total Employment of the Country during 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12
and 2012-13 were 10.17%, 10.78%, 11.49% and 12.36%, respectively.

Keeping in view this significant contribution of tourism in economy and
employment of the country, Ministry of Tourism makes adequate policies and
programmes to attract more tourists. Some of the major initiatives taken by the
Ministry of Tourism to attract more foreign tourists in the country are as
below:

i. Central Financial Assistance (CFA):

Ministry of Tourism operates various schemes through which Central Financial
Assistance (CFA) is provided to States/UTs for overall development and
promotion of tourism.

Recently, Ministry of Tourism has launched following two new schemes for
development of tourism in thematic manner:

Swadesh Darshan: Swadesh Darshan was launched for development of theme based
tourist circuits in a way that caters to both mass and niche tourism in a
holistic manner. Twelve Circuits namely North-East India Circuit, Buddhist
Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit,
Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit
and Ramayana Circuit have been identified for development under this Scheme.

National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive
(PRASAD): This new Scheme has been launched for the development and
beautification of pilgrimage sites to tap the growth of domestic tourists
driven by religious sentiments and to augment tourism infrastructure at places
of pilgrimage to facilitate pilgrims/tourists. In the first phase, cities
namely Amritsar, Kedarnath, Ajmer, Mathura, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Dwarka,
Amravati, Kanchipuram, Vellankanni, Guwahati and Patna have been identified for
infrastructure development.

ii. Publicity and Promotion:

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, promotes India as a holistic
destination in the international markets. As part of its promotional
activities, the MoT releases campaigns in the international markets under the
Incredible India brand-line to showcase various tourism destinations and
products including its cultural heritage.

Moreover, a series of promotional activities are being undertaken in tourist
generating markets overseas through the India Tourism Offices abroad with the
objective of showcasing India’s tourism potential and promoting tourism to the
country. These promotional activities include participation in travel fairs and
exhibitions; organising road shows, Know India seminars & workshops;
organizing and supporting Indian food and cultural festivals; publication of
brochures, offering joint advertising and brochure support, and inviting media
personalities, tour operators and opinion makers to visit the country under the
Hospitality programme of the Ministry.

The Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance to Stakeholders and
Tourism Departments of States/Union Territories for undertaking promotional
activities under the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme.

iii. e – Tourist Visa (e-TV):

The Government of India has introduced the facility of e-TV for the citizens of
113 countries at 16 airports. Introduction of e-TV is a Path breaking measure
by the Government in easing entry formalities in the country.

Government of India has also revised the e-TV fee in four slabs of 0, US$25,
US$48 and US$60 from November 3, 2015. Earlier e-TV application fee was US$60
and bank charge as US$2 which was uniform for all the countries. The revision
of Visa fee has been done on the principle of reciprocity. Bank charges have
also been reduced from US$2 to 2.5 % of the e-TV fee. During the period January
to October, 2015 a total of 2,58,182 e-TV holders visited India indicating the
success of the new online process.

This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism
(Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma
in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

****

Development of Buddhist
Circuits

The Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan
scheme in the year 2014-15 with a vision to develop theme based tourist
circuits on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and
sustainability in an integrated manner by synergizing efforts to focus on needs
and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance
employment opportunities. The Ministry has identified Buddhist Circuit as one
of the twelve thematic circuits for development under the Swadesh Darshan
scheme.

The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial
Assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for tourism
projects including Buddhist circuit in consultation with them subject to
availability of funds, liquidation of pending utilization certificates and
adherence to the scheme guidelines.

The details of projects sanctioned under the Swadesh
Darshan scheme till date are given below:-

Integrated
Development of Eco-Tourism, Adventure Sports, Associated Tourism related
Infrastructure for Development of Tehri Lake & Surroundings as New
Destination-District Tehri, Uttarakhand

80.37

4

Rajasthan

Development of
Sambhar Lake Town and Other Destinations under Desert Circuit in Swadesh
Darshan Scheme

63.96

5

Nagaland

Development of
Tribal Circuit Peren –Kohima-Wokha, Nagaland

97.36

This information was given by Minister of State for
Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil
Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

****

Converting islands and light
houses into Tourist attractions

The Ministry of Tourism,
as advised by the Ministry of Home Affairs, has constituted a
Sub-Group of Task Force comprising representatives from Ministry of Information
& Broadcasting; Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change;
Ministry of Shipping; Archaeological Survey of India; Coastal India Development
Council; Indian Coast Guard and Maritime Board of Government of Gujarat to
provide inputs for identifying islands for holistic development, indicate
islands with historic places, and with tourism potential for holistic
development. An Interim Report on holistic development of islands has been
submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Ministry of Shipping has informed that 78 lighthouses
have been identified for tourism development of which 44 are mainland
lighthouses and 34 are island lighthouses.

The State-wise details of Lighthouses which are being
developed as tourist attractions are given below:-

Development and promotion of tourism including recreation facilities such as
water sports, resorts, light and sound shows at tourist attractions is the
responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.
The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance to the projects
that are complete as per existing scheme guidelines and are sanctioned subject
to availability of scheme/funds and utilization of funds released earlier.

LIST OF LIGHTHOUSES

Land Lighthouses

Island Lighthouses

GUJARAT

1.

Dwarka

1.

Pirotan N. Point

2.

Veraval

2.

Kalubhar

3.

Mandvi

3.

Piram

4.

Kachchigarh

4.

Savaibet

5.

Gopnath

6.

Alang

MAHARASHTRA/ GOA

1.

Uttan

1.

Vengurla Rock

2.

Korlai Fort

2.

Sao George

3.

Jaigarh

3.

Kanhoji Angre

4.

Ratnagiri

4.

Sunk Rock

5.

Umergaon

6.

Devgad

7.

Tolkeshwar

8.

Kanai Creek

9.

Aguada

KARNATAKA

1.

Bhatkal

1.

Oyster Rock

2.

Suratkal

3.

Kaup

KERALA

1.

Chetwai

2.

Vypin

3.

Mannakodam

4.

Vizhinjam

5.

Thangesseri

6.

Kannur

7.

Alleppy

8.

Kadalur Point

LAKSHADWEEP

1.

Kadamat

2.

Thinakara

3.

Agathi

4.

Androth W. End

5.

Kavaratti

6.

Suhelipar

7.

Chetlath

8.

Kalpeni

9.

Kiltan

10.

Minicoy

TAMILNADU

1.

Manappad

2.

Kilakkarai

3.

Kodikkarai

4.

Portonovo

5.

Pulicat

6.

Mahabalipuram

7.

Kanyakumari – Muttam

PUDUCHERY

1.

Pondicherry

ANDHRA PRADESH

1.

Antervedi

1.

Nagayalanka

2.

Sacramento

3.

Vakalpudi

4.

Santapille

5.

Kalingapatnam

ODISHA

1.

Gopalpur

1.

False point

2.

Puri

3.

Paradip

4.

Chandrabhaga

WEST BENGAL

1.

Dariyapur

1.

Saugor island

ANDAMAN & NICOBAR
ISLAND

1.

North point

2.

North Cinque

3.

Port Cornowallis

4.

Sir Huge Rose

5.

Aves

6.

East island

7.

Chidiya Tapu

8.

Little Andaman

9.

Rutland

10.

Keating Point

11.

South Sentinel

12.

Narcondum

This information was given by Minister of State for
Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil
Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

****

Bed and Breakfast Scheme

The number of Incredible India Bed and Breakfast
Establishments approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India as on
date are as follows:-

REGION

TOTAL NUMBER OF
UNITS

Northern Region

257

Southern Region

14

Eastern Region

9

Western Region

22

North East
Region

3

TOTAL

305

Some State Governments also have their own schemes for
approval of Bed and Breakfast Establishments.

With a view to propagate and promote the Incredible India
Bed & Breakfast Scheme, the 05 Regional Offices of India Tourism at New
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Guwahati alongwith the respective State
and Union Territory Governments conducted workshops in their region.

This information was given by Minister of State for
Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil
Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

****

Strengthening of Facilities at
Tourist Destinations

The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) is focusing on integrated
development of tourist circuits and destinations in the country. Following two
new schemes have been launched in 2014-15 for this purpose:

1.Swadesh Darshan for Integrated
Development of Tourist Circuits around Specific Themes.

Under Swadesh Darshan, integrated development of theme based circuits is taken
up in order to provide engaging and complete tourism experience to both
domestic and foreign tourists.

2) National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation
Drive (PRASAD) to beautify and improve the amenities and
infrastructure at pilgrimage centres of all faiths.

The PRASAD Scheme integrated development of identified pilgrimage destinations
is taken up in a planned, prioritized and sustainable manner to provide
complete religious tourism experience to the tourists.

Infrastructure Development
at Puri, Shree Jagannath Dham- Ramachandi-Prachi River front at Deuli under
Mega Circuit

2014-15

50.00

PUNJAB

5.

Development of Karuna Sagar
Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar

2015-16

6.45

RAJASTHAN

6.

Integrated Development of
Pushkar/Ajmer

2015-16

40.44

Andhra Pradesh

7.

Development of amaravati
Town, Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh as Tourist Destination

2015-16

28.36

Assam

8.

Development of Kamakhya
Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati.

2015-16

33.98

Grand Total

187.81

This information was given by Minister of State for
Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil
Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

****

MoU Signed between ICIS and
NBCC for Construction of ICIS at Tirupati and Noida

The construction
of Indian Culinary Institutes (ICIs) at Tirupati and Noida is all set to begin,
with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian
Culinary Institute (ICI) Society and the National Buildings Construction
Corporation Ltd. (NBCC) yesterday at the Ministry of Tourism, New Delhi. The
MoU was signed by Dr. Preeti Srivastava, Joint Secretary & Ex-officio
Director, ICI on behalf of ICI Society and Sh. Rajendra Chaudhari, Director
(Commercial) on behalf of NBCC Ltd. Secretary, M/o Tourism Shri Vinod Zutshi
and Joint Secretary, M/o Tourism Shri Suman Billa also graced the occasion.

Indian Culinary Institute (ICI) at Tirupati with its Northern Regional Chapter
at Noida are being set up by the Ministry of Tourism. Foundation Stones for
both the Institutes have already been laid. The Govt. of Andhra Pradesh has
transferred land measuring 14.21 acres at Tirupati in favour of ICI Society for
construction of ICI Tirupati.

The main objective of setting up of ICI is to institutionalise a mechanism to
support efforts intended to preserve, document, promote and disseminate the
Indian Cuisine, meet the sectoral requirement of specialists specific to Indian
Cuisine, as also of teachers, and promote Cuisine as a Niche Tourism product. The
ICIs are proposed as Institutes of Excellence that will offer structured
regular programmes of study specific to culinary arts leading to graduate and
post graduate level degrees, promote research and innovation, organize demand
driven certificate and diploma courses, document and create data base specific
to Indian cuisine and commission studies and survey on cuisine.

The need for ICI is felt as the formal education specific to Indian cuisine, a
culinary art, with pan-India sweep is conspicuous by its absence. There is no
regular credible institutional source at apex level for supply of cuisine
specialists to the sector. Also, at present there is no institutional mechanism
to document and disseminate information related to cuisine.

In India at present, there is dearth of ideal training ground to groom chefs of
international standards. To fill this void, the ICIs would provide the
appropriate training ground at par with the culinary schools functioning in
different parts of the developed world. The edifice to be created would be
exclusive and one of its kind at selecting and training the best talent through
intensive programmes of one to three years duration. This effort will
facilitate building a super-speciality food production work-force to assure positions
of Chefs and beyond in the hospitality industry.